The two cats' eyes grew large as the doors opened. Roman's dining room was lined with rich mahogany wood and red velvet decorative curtains. Small works of art hung on the wall. Some were created by animal artists, but others were clearly stolen from human collections. The light dazzled from above, as candles burned on an ornate golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A small band of hamsters were playing classical sonatas on their instruments. After having spent so much time around rodents, Akhi was able to recognize the tune as that of the famous mouse composer, Theodisclus. In the center of the room was a long wooden dining table with a fruit filled cornucopia arranged in the middle. Sitting at the far end was a robed brown rat, inhaling from a gold laden hookah pipe. The hookah was resting on a silver tray being held by a perfectly docile squirrel.

Akhi stepped into the room, followed by the two skunk guards who sealed the doors behind them. Once he was closer, Akhi noticed the 'missing cat' poster resting flat on the table in front of the brown rat. It was the photograph of him being embraced by baby Noah in the living room of his family's home. That picture felt like it was taken a lifetime ago. Even upside down, he could read the human symbols 'Please return to 2232 St. James Street' on the poster. He took a deep breath.

"Lord Roman of the Italian Market," one of the skunks announced, "Allow me to present Akhi of Rittenhouse."

"Please, sit," the old brown rat held out a calloused, clawed hand towards the other end of the lengthy table. Akhi silently obeyed Roman and sat in the cushioned chair.

"Care for lunch, my boy?"

Before Akhi could indicate one way or another, Roman laid his hookah nozzle down and signaled to a waiting servant.

"We'll both have squab," The rat ordered.

Immediately, the hamster servant sprung into action, marching behind a curtain at the other end of the room to what Akhi could only assume was the kitchen. Roman turned his attention back to his guest.

"Although we have never formally met, I hear that you are one of my Legion's finest lookouts."

"Thank you... sir? I'm not sure what I am supposed to call you..." Akhi said shakily.

Roman smiled as he picked up the nozzle of the hookah and inhaled deeply. Smoky rings emerged from his mouth. "There is no need to fear me," he chuckled. "We are all part of the same Legion. You can refer to me as your lord. That is the title that was bestowed upon me by the Pharaoh."

The powerfully dangerous rat was being too friendly, Akhi felt.

Roman caught Akhi glancing at the 'missing cat' poster laying on the table.

"Us rats," the rodent  began. "We are no one's pets. We're not like house cats or dogs. Humans don't want us. Birds and ferals hunt us for food and sport. Traps are laid out when we become too numerous. Our bodies are used for experiments in human laboratories."

Akhi watched the rat's eyes begin to narrow while taking another drag from the hookah.

"So, we make do with whatever we can to survive. Even though we are small, we are many. Though we are hated, we are intelligent. And as ruthless as we need to be, we are grateful to the animals that choose to serve us loyally." Roman smiled a toothy grin at Akhi while his eyes remained pursed.

"Thank you, my lord." Akhi felt a great hope wash over him that maybe this was all Roman wanted to discuss; A thank you for a job well done.

"Is it true what Baldwin says?" The brown rat asked. Roman stared with probing eyes at the cat seated across from him. "That we've had a former Mejay soldier in our midst for six whole moon cycles?"

Akhi's body tensed up.

"No, my lord," Akhi shook his head from side to side vigorously. "I have never been a Mejay officer."

Roman's friendly demeanor vanished. He tsked before glaring at a fox standing silently against the wall. The fox must have been a frightened advisor, as the orange fur on his face fluffed out.

The advisor turned his sniveling head towards Akhi before fumbling with a long-winded statement. "We were informed by Baldwin, one of our most trustworthy generals, that you have the mark of the sun disc on your left side."

Akhi wondered if the fox was trying to subtly blame Baldwin for the mistake.

Where was Baldwin, anyway. Akhi wondered to himself.

"As I am sure you are well aware, the sun disc is the royal mark of the Pharaoh's kingdom. It is permanently branded onto the bodies of all Mejay officers," The fox advisor almost stuttered under the judgmental stare of Roman.

"I... I had been made aware," Akhi carefully chose each word, wondering which way the conversation was heading.

"If you would be so kind, please show our exalted lord the mark so he may see it for himself."

Akhi blinked.

All this for a silly patch of fur shaped like a donut?

The black cat stood up from his chair and turned slightly to the right. Roman adjusted his posture in his chair for a better view. For some reason unknown to Akhi, a greedy grin emerged on the rodent's pointy face.

The advisor exhaled and seemed incredibly relieved, as if his life had depended on the pattern of Akhi's fur.

"My boy, Akhi!" Roman began to chuckle. "You don't know how lucky you are!"

Akhi sat back down in the plush chair and forced a smile at his host. He watched a servant offer up the hookah nozzle to Roman before being shooed away by a wave of his lord's mighty rodent hand.

Roman turned his head to the right and yelled to the kitchen "Where is our squab?" Akhi could hear plates crashing and hamsters scurrying about upon hearing their master's outburst.

"And bring us milk, Guernsey cream!" the rat shouted.

As if on cue, four hamsters emerged from the rear door carrying plates loaded with ginger spiced poultry, sweet carrots, and goblets of white cream. The servants placed the meal before Roman and Akhi before scampering back to the kitchen. Roman grasped the cooked bird with his hands and noisily tore into the flesh with his sharp teeth. Akhi picked at the carrots, trying not to stare at his host.

"What does the mark of the sun disc represent to you, Akhi?" Roman asked while tearing a hunk of meat from the bone.

Akhi tried to think quickly on his paws. "I... I don't..." He began to feel the skin under his fur flush as he reached for the goblet of milk. He took a big gulp before deciding to answer truthfully. "I'm sorry, I've never really thought about it. It was always just a white patch of fur to me."

"But you thought enough about it to hide it from your comrades here in the Legion; with some sort of paint?" Roman leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and jutting his head forward.

Akhi suddenly felt nervous at the accusation. He noticed a shooting glance from the orange-furred advisor, who quickly looked away.

"That's right. Well, mostly right. Although it was coal powder, not paint." Akhi fumbled trying to get his thoughts to his mouth. He slowly blinked and took a deep breath. "I didn't want people to think I was something that I wasn't."

"Of course!" Roman sat back in his chair, smiling. "I couldn't have said it better myself, my boy." Roman suddenly stood up from his chair and began pacing around the room, not looking at anything, in particular.

"That's a very noble trait. Not wanting to trick others." the brown rat nodded his head. "You see, when most animals spot the sun disc symbol on the Mejay's fur, or on their shields, or even on the flags around the kingdom, they become afraid. It is a symbol that strikes fear into animals' hearts." Roman turned to stare into Akhi's eyes. "Do you know why the sun disc strikes fear into their hearts, my boy?"

Akhi thought for a moment before answering. "Well, the Mejay kill animals and burn down their homes if they don't agree to swear loyalty to the Pharaoh."

Roman shrugged and looked at one of his armed guards. "Any animal can kill on the streets of this city. My leggionaires kill scores of animals, yet we don't inspire the same terror that the Pharaoh does."

Akhi remained silent.

"The Pharaoh claims to be a god, born directly from the sun. Or so the legends go." Roman harrumphed and looked back at Akhi. "Do you believe that tale?"

Akhi shook his head from side to side.

"Good! Then you are smarter than most of the animals living in this flea-ridden kingdom" Roman walked back over to his chair and gripped the back of it in frustration. "The sun disc is just trickery. An illusion of power. That's all it is," he scoffed. "And yet we have to bow down because of the fear this random patch of fur inspires among almost everyone, even our own troops!" He looked with disgust at one of his skunk guards.

Akhi started to piece together the various politics at play. Roman resented being under the Pharaoh's paw, he realized. I don't want any part of what's coming...

"My lord," Akhi quietly interjected. "Doesn't the Pharaoh pay us handsomly for the items we steal? The copper and medicine..."

"Yes, yes," Roman brushed off the remark with an exaggerated wave of his hand. "The Pharaoh supposedly has some fanciful plans related to the plague. Designs on a new future. Promising that rats will be an important part of it. That sort of thing."

What does that mean? Akhi suddenly worried.

Roman grinned. "But the animals within these walls can't eat promises. They chose me as their leader because they knew I would always put their security first. And as long as the kingdom is being ruled by some animal other than me, our safety is in doubt." The rat began to raise his voice. "The Pharaoh is just a cat, however much they claim to be descended from the sun." Roman rolled his eyes at the word. "And any cat can be killed." He stared intensely at Akhi.

Akhi felt a lump in his throat and nervously took a swig from his goblet. While he was swallowing, he heard a thump behind the large wooden doors. He suspected Halima must have been listening this whole time.

"My lord," Akhi knew he needed to lay the flattery on thick if he was to decline whatever ambitious scheme Roman had concocted. "I'm not sure what you want me to do, but I have been rethinking my role in the Legion, and..."

"That's good! That's good to hear, my boy!"

Roman's smirk scared Akhi more than he wanted to admit.

"Because I was just about to offer you an important position." Roman looked over to his advisor and then back to Akhi. "I want to offer you the chance to be Pharaoh."

Akhi blinked with a stupefied expression on his face.

"I... I don't understand."

Roman paced around the room again. "I'm going to overthrow the Pharaoh." Roman looked at Akhi from his spot near a painting of a pig devouring members of its own species. "But many of the Pharaoh's followers are a superstitious lot of creatures. They actually think the Pharaoh to be divine, can you believe that?" He laughed in a sick way that made the hair on Akhi's neck stand up straight. "They would see me as a traitor. As just a brigand. Or worse: a thief," he snarled. "That's why I need you."

Roman walked closer to his guest of honor. "You have the marking of the sun disc on you. It isn't even a brand; you were born with it!" Roman's eyes were wide as they stared into Akhi's. "We will claim you have divine bloodlines; that you are the rightful Pharaoh of the kingdom and you were taking the throne from a ruthless tyrant." Roman smiled coyly. "And since you have no experience governing, you would understandably decide to name me your regent, having me lead the kingdom in your place. No one would question it!" He slammed his fist on the table, spilling Akhi's goblet.

Akhi was nearly frozen by the intensity of the rodent standing above him. "I... I don't..."

"You would be a figurehead sitting on the throne; as famous as the Pharaoh but without any of the responsibilities," Roman said in a soft, slithery voice. "The only animal on earth that you would have to obey is me. Anything else your beating heart desires would be yours."

Akhi's eyes slowly lowered. He caught a glimpse of the spilled cream, slowly dripping onto the carpet. He weighed the atrocities that the Mejay had committed in the Pharaoh's name across the kingdom. He remembered how they had burned down Halima's old home. Akhi had no love for the current Pharaoh.

"Imagine it, my boy. Whatever riches you desired. Gold, jewels, silk robes." He sat on the table in front of Akhi. "As much of the finest catnip grown in the kingdom for your nostrils..." He leaned in closer. "That blue-eyed cat you seem to be particularly close with. She could be the first of your many cat slaves." Roman smiled to himself with the confidence of someone who typically got their way.

Akhi raised his eyes and glared at Akhi. Something about Roman mentioning Halima caused anger to build up in his chest. He could feel the muscles in his forepaws begin to tighten. For the first time in many moon cycles, the fear he felt had been replaced by a deep desire to do what was right. "And what if I don't want anything to do with this plan? What if I want to go back to my old life," he asked.

Roman furrowed his brow and stood up from his position on the table. "I think you misunderstood me, my boy. This wasn't a request. It was an order from the head of your Legion."

"And if I refuse?"

Roman raised one eyebrow and then glanced at his advisor. The advisor nodded before the brown rodent looked back at Akhi.

"Do you know what happened to the last animal that refused my command?" Roman cast a glance down at Akhi's plate. "Squab is a delicious meat, when prepared correctly. Very tender. It comes from a young pigeon, typically before they know how to fly away from their disloyal mother's nest. As it turns out, many animals that have had changes of heart about their loyalty to our Legion needed... extra motivation before they knew what was in their best interests."

Akhi felt sick. He looked at the untouched roasted poultry in front of him and almost vomited. His breathing became rapid and shallow as he thought of the home he desperately missed.

I need to get out of here. He began to blink rapidly and could feel his heartbeat in his ears.

Roman sauntered back over to his own chair and sat down, victoriously. He picked up the missing pet poster of Akhi and Noah hugging that Baldwin had found. "This boy..." he began in a confident voice. "My translator says he lives at 2232 St. James Street. Isn't that where you used to live?" he asked in a mocking tone.

Akhi lifted his head and glared across the table with hatred in his eyes. He noticed the vile rat grinning.

"I would die before letting you touch one hair on his head," Akhi hissed through gritted teeth.

"I'm sure you would," Roman shrugged as he seemed unfazed by the threat. "That's why I ordered Baldwin and his troops to capture the boy before I even summoned you to this meal."

The words caused Akhi's heart to fall through the bottom of his stomach. Roman kept speaking but Akhi couldn't hear any sounds. The walls looked like they were closing in. He closed his eyes and couldn't breathe.

What have I done?

He thought of Noah being led underground in a metal cage. He pictured Jacob and Abigail sobbing as they would never see their son again. He imagined Misha; just staring at him. He took a deep breath.

I am afraid, he admitted to himself. But I know what I have to do. With that, he stood up from his seat.

"I am your sworn cat, my lord," Akhi bowed. "I'll help you overthrow the Pharaoh and make you regent."

The rodent at the other end of the table threw his head back and laughed a deep belly laugh. "Excellent news, my boy. Excellent news! I'm glad we could come to some sort of understanding between us."

Akhi forced himself to smile. The understanding felt like a dagger at his throat. He knew he had no choice but to pretend to go along, for now.

"I always knew you would be an illustrious member of the Legion! Never doubted it for a moment, my boy!" Roman quickly launched himself over to Akhi and slapped him on the back in a harder than friendly manner.

"Thank you for the opportunity," Akhi said in his humblest voice as he bowed again.

Roman turned toward his fox advisor that had stayed silent throughout the entire conversation. "You see, Sisburt? Loyalty is earned through fear, not love."

"You are correct as usual, my lord," Sisburt bowed as low as he could without melting through the floor.

Roman turned back towards Akhi as the guards opened the large wooden doors. There was no sign of Halima. "Now you need to stay out of trouble!" He chuckled to himself as he escorted Akhi to the exit with one paw on his back. "Make sure you stay in your room or nearabouts until our plan is ready to execute. We can't have our prized royal blood being spilled before the appropriate time!"

"Of course," Akhi nodded and smiled.

"These are two of my most trustworthy guards and they will make sure to keep you safe. Not that I don't necessarily trust you, but I don't really trust anyone."

Akhi nodded again while he desperately tried to think of an escape.

Roman continued in his most upbeat tone. "And I will let you know when the boy has been successfully brought to our lair. Maybe I will let you visit him in his cage, if you continue to prove your loyalty to me."

"That would be very generous," Akhi said. Roman patted Akhi one more time on the back as he let the cat cross the threshold of the door by himself, with the two skunk guards by his side.

"And I'll make sure to have more of the Guernsey cream sent to your quarters. And whatever shipments of catnip that are brought in." Roman smiled.

"That would be very kind, my lord. And thank you again." Akhi bowed one more time before the doors closed.

As the two skunks began escorting him back through the tunnels of Roman's Quarter, Akhi noticed a half used candle, strewn on the ground. It sat in an indent in the carpet where one of the floor lamps had been standing. Someone had apparently taken it. The three animals continued their march. Gradually, the passageway became darker. Someone had extinguished the candles in the floor lamps.

"Bloody furball," one of the guards muttered. "The candles must have burned out."

"Where are those filthy hamsters to relight them?" The other complained.

The tunnel soon became pitch black. The trio proceeded slowly, walking past circular openings that led to other branches of the tunnel system. Akhi kept facing straight ahead, afraid that any attempt to scan for Halima would give her away.

He suddenly felt air rush past his tail and heard two loud thumps, the sound of metal hitting into something soft, followed by the sound of two animals falling onto the carpet. It had happened in the blink of an eye. He turned around and could faintly see the outline of Halima holding the missing metal floor lamp. Below her were two piles of white and black fur, still breathing, but unconscious on the floor.

"Thanks for that," Akhi said. He saw Halima's silhouette nod back at him.

"You heard what Roman was planning?" he asked.

Again, she just nodded.

"Well let's get the carp out of here," he said, as he squinted at different tunnels, trying to find which one would lead to the surface. "We need to warn Misha that they are going to kidnap Noah." He began to sprint towards one of the corridors before stopping. Halima wasn't following him.

He turned around. "Lima, what are you doing? We have to go now."

"I'm not going," she said quietly.

Akhi ran back to her. He picked up her paw and pulled it towards him. "What do you mean you're not going? You just knocked two guards unconscious. They'll kill you."

She pulled her paw back. "They didn't see me. I'll tell them you did it and that I found them like this." She motioned to the two lumps of fur on the ground.

"I don't understand. Why would you stay?!" He could hear his own voice dripping with judgment.

"I'm comfortable here. You don't know what it's like out there by yourself," she raised her voice above a whisper. "You didn't last a day before I found you. I don't want to always be scared, looking over my tail to see if some animal is trying to make me their next meal."

Akhi's eyes had almost fully adjusted to the dark. He could make out the features of his friend's face. She was being serious. 

"Didn't you hear Roman?" he said in frustration. "He was going to make you a slave! You want them to care about you, but they just don't." He watched as she closed her eyes in anger.

"Well, with you gone, that won't happen," she tsked. "Listen, I know this place isn't for you. You have big dreams and a family and a flea-ridden canine friend that misses you," she added bitingly, "and that's great for you. But I don't have those things. Whatever I had was burned to ashes before the Legion took me in. This is all I have."

Akhi couldn't believe what he was hearing. He watched as she turned her back to him.

"Who exactly burned your village to the ground?" Akhi didn't wait for her to answer. "Roman is using us, all of us, to help the Pharaoh and the Mejay. And we can either bury our heads in litter and pretend it's not happening, or we can do something about it. But not choosing is the same as making a choice."

In the blackness of the tunnels, he could see her head sink between her shoulder blades.

"I deserve this place," she whispered.

"Lima, you saved my life... twice. You are better than they are."

Despite the urgency, he waited for several tailwags before turning to leave.

Halima didn't follow.

Akhi stepped into the shaft leading to the exit. He twisted his head back around and spoke into the darkness in a voice he didn't know he possessed. "I'm done spending another tailwag of my life pretending to be some animal that I'm not. And housecat or not, my family needs me."

She remained silent.

"It's never too late to do some good, Lima," he paused as he saw her ears perk up. "And if you ever realize how strong you really are, you'll have a friend waiting for you on the outside."

With that, Akhi continued on through the tunnel, finding his way to the light of the surface.